Tuesday Refocushttp://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org
Wed, 19 Dec 2018 08:30:26 +0000http://churchplantmedia.com/31 October 2017http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/31-october-2017
http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/31-october-2017#commentsWed, 22 Nov 2017 12:00:00 +0000http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/31-october-2017'Flee to Jesus that the torn may be mended, the mob silenced, the weak bolstered and the scared made brave in the presence of Him who is King.' - Beth Moore

There is no hierarchy in the family of God. No division, none more valuable than the next. We gather together every Sunday, walking through the doors echoing the Psalmist, ‘As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer, do not delay, O my God.’ (40:17).

I become increasingly convinced that to lead people well, we must go first. We must first recognise our own weakness, and flee to His strength before we can truly invite others to do the same.

]]>'Flee to Jesus that the torn may be mended, the mob silenced, the weak bolstered and the scared made brave in the presence of Him who is King.' - Beth Moore

There is no hierarchy in the family of God. No division, none more valuable than the next. We gather together every Sunday, walking through the doors echoing the Psalmist, ‘As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer, do not delay, O my God.’ (40:17).

I become increasingly convinced that to lead people well, we must go first. We must first recognise our own weakness, and flee to His strength before we can truly invite others to do the same.

]]>7 November 2017http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/7-november-2017
http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/7-november-2017#commentsWed, 22 Nov 2017 12:00:00 +0000http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/7-november-2017‘Possibly one of the most devastating things that can happen to us as Christians is that we cease to expect anything to happen.’ – Martin Lloyd-Jones

Read that again.And again.And again.

Do these words resonate with who we are as a team of people that lead corporate sung worship?Do we actually expect God to show up? Do we expect Him to move? Do we expect Him to speak?

Another, more painful question… do these words resonate with your own personal walk with God? Do you expect the One who thunders, and whispers to speak to tenderly to you (Psalm 29:3, 1 Kings 19:12, Hosea 2:14)? Do you expect the hands that flung stars into place to hold you secure (Psalm 8:3, John 10:28)? Do you expect the One who is faithful in all His words and kind in all His works to keep you from falling (Psalm 145:13, Psalm 121:3)?

I desperately desire for our people to show up expectant. Ready. Prepared. Not merely to sing, but for God to speak and for our songs to rise, minds to be renewed, hearts to be transformed, lives to be conformed as we respond to our God who does not keep silence (Psalm 40:3, Romans 12:2, Romans 8:29, Psalm 50:3).

Brothers and sisters, expect God to move. Not only as you serve from the front, but as you sit in the congregation, and in the quiet monotony of life, work, and studies. God, give us ears to hear, and hearts that wait in eager anticipation.

]]>‘Possibly one of the most devastating things that can happen to us as Christians is that we cease to expect anything to happen.’ – Martin Lloyd-Jones

Read that again.And again.And again.

Do these words resonate with who we are as a team of people that lead corporate sung worship?Do we actually expect God to show up? Do we expect Him to move? Do we expect Him to speak?

Another, more painful question… do these words resonate with your own personal walk with God? Do you expect the One who thunders, and whispers to speak to tenderly to you (Psalm 29:3, 1 Kings 19:12, Hosea 2:14)? Do you expect the hands that flung stars into place to hold you secure (Psalm 8:3, John 10:28)? Do you expect the One who is faithful in all His words and kind in all His works to keep you from falling (Psalm 145:13, Psalm 121:3)?

I desperately desire for our people to show up expectant. Ready. Prepared. Not merely to sing, but for God to speak and for our songs to rise, minds to be renewed, hearts to be transformed, lives to be conformed as we respond to our God who does not keep silence (Psalm 40:3, Romans 12:2, Romans 8:29, Psalm 50:3).

Brothers and sisters, expect God to move. Not only as you serve from the front, but as you sit in the congregation, and in the quiet monotony of life, work, and studies. God, give us ears to hear, and hearts that wait in eager anticipation.

]]>14 November 2017http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/14-november-2017
http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/14-november-2017#commentsWed, 22 Nov 2017 12:00:00 +0000http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/14-november-2017‘You know you have an idol when you have to perform.’ – Ann Voskamp

Earn. Prove. Strive. Perform.Those are the messages, both subtle and overt, at the core of every worldview and religion. Save one. For the Christian, we are invited to rest (Matt 11:30). Rest in an identity already won – our identity in Christ.

Our performance is as filthy rags – so we rest in the ‘it is finished’ of Christ’s cross (Is 64:6, Jn 19:30).Our striving is but chasing after the wind – so we rest in the word spoken over Jesus’ identity by the Father: ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Ecc 2:11, Matt 3:17).Our efforts to prove ourselves first mean that we will be last (Matt 20:16). So we rest in perfect submission of the One who has been given the Name above every other name (Phil 2:8-9).Our efforts to earn evidence the reality we do not understand grace (Rom 11:6), so we rest in the free gift of God (Eph 2:8).

Whether it is behind a microphone or instrument, at home or at work, with your family or your friends – search your heart (Ps 139:23). Because anything that whispers your acceptance is tied to your performance is an idol. Root it out with truth and rest in your true identity.

]]>‘You know you have an idol when you have to perform.’ – Ann Voskamp

Earn. Prove. Strive. Perform.Those are the messages, both subtle and overt, at the core of every worldview and religion. Save one. For the Christian, we are invited to rest (Matt 11:30). Rest in an identity already won – our identity in Christ.

Our performance is as filthy rags – so we rest in the ‘it is finished’ of Christ’s cross (Is 64:6, Jn 19:30).Our striving is but chasing after the wind – so we rest in the word spoken over Jesus’ identity by the Father: ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Ecc 2:11, Matt 3:17).Our efforts to prove ourselves first mean that we will be last (Matt 20:16). So we rest in perfect submission of the One who has been given the Name above every other name (Phil 2:8-9).Our efforts to earn evidence the reality we do not understand grace (Rom 11:6), so we rest in the free gift of God (Eph 2:8).

Whether it is behind a microphone or instrument, at home or at work, with your family or your friends – search your heart (Ps 139:23). Because anything that whispers your acceptance is tied to your performance is an idol. Root it out with truth and rest in your true identity.

]]>21 November 2017http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/21-november-2017
http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/21-november-2017#commentsWed, 22 Nov 2017 12:00:00 +0000http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/21-november-2017‘A servant of God has but one Master. It ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great, and honoured in that world where his Lord was poor… and despised.’ – George Muller

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

In my own preparation for Advent and Christmas in these past weeks, I have been overwhelmed with the reality that our Saviour who sustains the universe by the Word of His power, is the same One who humbled Himself to the point of death (Heb 1:3, Phil 2:8).

I am praying that our hearts will echo the wonder of the Psalmist, ‘what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?’ (8:4). And that our lives and service will be shaped by the humility of our Saviour as we lead and give our lives away.

]]>‘A servant of God has but one Master. It ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great, and honoured in that world where his Lord was poor… and despised.’ – George Muller

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

In my own preparation for Advent and Christmas in these past weeks, I have been overwhelmed with the reality that our Saviour who sustains the universe by the Word of His power, is the same One who humbled Himself to the point of death (Heb 1:3, Phil 2:8).

I am praying that our hearts will echo the wonder of the Psalmist, ‘what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?’ (8:4). And that our lives and service will be shaped by the humility of our Saviour as we lead and give our lives away.

]]>17 October 2017http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/17-october-2017
http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/17-october-2017#commentsTue, 24 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +0100http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/17-october-2017‘Grace is God’s refusal to allow us to define ourselves or to have the last word.’ – Michael Horton

Words have weight – carrying the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Flowing from the heart, coming out of the mouth to bless or curse (Luke 6:45, James 3:10). Our Enemy – the father of lies – is constantly attempting to leverage the words we hear in culture, in passing, in relationship, and the words we speak to ourselves to convince us of his truth – which are in fact lies (John 8:44). But over the life of a Christ follower, there is a Better Word Spoken. The Word Christ, the Word of His blood, the Word of His sacrifice, the Word of Grace (Hebrews 12:24).

And as Paul shared with Cornerstone Liverpool on Sunday – this grace is a liberating truth!

Believe the Better Word this week.

Be liberated by the Better Word this week.

Serve in and by and through the power of the Better Word this week.

Believing,

AB

]]>‘Grace is God’s refusal to allow us to define ourselves or to have the last word.’ – Michael Horton

Words have weight – carrying the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Flowing from the heart, coming out of the mouth to bless or curse (Luke 6:45, James 3:10). Our Enemy – the father of lies – is constantly attempting to leverage the words we hear in culture, in passing, in relationship, and the words we speak to ourselves to convince us of his truth – which are in fact lies (John 8:44). But over the life of a Christ follower, there is a Better Word Spoken. The Word Christ, the Word of His blood, the Word of His sacrifice, the Word of Grace (Hebrews 12:24).

And as Paul shared with Cornerstone Liverpool on Sunday – this grace is a liberating truth!

Believe the Better Word this week.

Be liberated by the Better Word this week.

Serve in and by and through the power of the Better Word this week.

Believing,

AB

]]>24 October 2017http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/24-october-2017
http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/24-october-2017#commentsTue, 24 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +0100http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/24-october-2017‘Grace is sufficient even though we huff and puff with all our might to try and find something or someone that it cannot cover.’ – Brennan Manning

‘For from His fullness we all received, grace upon grace (Jn 1:16).’ Our God lacks nothing. He does not grow weary, He does not slumber, He does not sleep, He does not need to be replenished or refreshed (Is 40:28, Ps 50, Hag 2:8). He is without beginning or end, and every aspect of His character flows perfectly, fully, overwhelmingly without end from eternity past into eternity (Rev 22:13). And it is out of this fullness that we have received grace upon grace.

If grace is sufficient to save you, grace is more than sufficient to keep you, and sustain you (2 Cor 12:9). Serve from this past, present and future grace that carries you along. Do not serve from your fullness that changes moment-to-moment, serve from His fullness that never ends.

From grace,

AB

]]>‘Grace is sufficient even though we huff and puff with all our might to try and find something or someone that it cannot cover.’ – Brennan Manning

‘For from His fullness we all received, grace upon grace (Jn 1:16).’ Our God lacks nothing. He does not grow weary, He does not slumber, He does not sleep, He does not need to be replenished or refreshed (Is 40:28, Ps 50, Hag 2:8). He is without beginning or end, and every aspect of His character flows perfectly, fully, overwhelmingly without end from eternity past into eternity (Rev 22:13). And it is out of this fullness that we have received grace upon grace.

If grace is sufficient to save you, grace is more than sufficient to keep you, and sustain you (2 Cor 12:9). Serve from this past, present and future grace that carries you along. Do not serve from your fullness that changes moment-to-moment, serve from His fullness that never ends.

This is my prayer for each of us, that grace and truth will be inseparable in our lives. And this marriage will be reflected in our demeanor and attitude, in our posture of serving, and in our words, actions and thoughts towards our families, friends, and the family of God. Oh, that Truth would pierce our hearts with floods of grace! Would you pray that with me this week?

This is my prayer for each of us, that grace and truth will be inseparable in our lives. And this marriage will be reflected in our demeanor and attitude, in our posture of serving, and in our words, actions and thoughts towards our families, friends, and the family of God. Oh, that Truth would pierce our hearts with floods of grace! Would you pray that with me this week?

‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come [2 Cor 5:17].’ Before Christ we were not merely bad people, who were cleaned up and made a little better through Christ – we were dead people made alive in Him [Col 2:13]. In fact, our old nature was ‘…crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me [Gal 2:20].’ This is the Word becoming flesh in us.

And as we learn to continually walk and live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us, the more clearly do we display the life of Christ in us – the hope of glory [Gal 2:20, Col 1:27]. This is my flesh becoming Word.

So live from your true identity this week – as those who have been made alive in Christ. And serve as Christ has served you – by becoming Word among us.

‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come [2 Cor 5:17].’ Before Christ we were not merely bad people, who were cleaned up and made a little better through Christ – we were dead people made alive in Him [Col 2:13]. In fact, our old nature was ‘…crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me [Gal 2:20].’ This is the Word becoming flesh in us.

And as we learn to continually walk and live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us, the more clearly do we display the life of Christ in us – the hope of glory [Gal 2:20, Col 1:27]. This is my flesh becoming Word.

So live from your true identity this week – as those who have been made alive in Christ. And serve as Christ has served you – by becoming Word among us.

]]>12 September 2017http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/12-september-2017
http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/12-september-2017#commentsWed, 27 Sep 2017 21:00:00 +0100http://www.cornerstonechurchliverpool.org/tuesday-refocus/post/12-september-2017If our Sunday services only acknowledged the reality of our broken Genesis 3 lives (The Fall), and did not continue on to speak the whole story, we would be without hope. But it is exactly there – in Genesis 3 – where God promises Redemption.

Redemption that has been accomplished by perfect life and perfect sacrifice of God’s perfect Son, Jesus Christ. ‘It is finished (Jn 19:30),’ is the victory cry of our redemption. ‘It is finished,’ is the deathblow to the consequences of our sin, which is death (Rom 6:23).

So we want our songs, order, and services to allow people to look at their own sin – which is their death – and look at the death of Christ – which is their life.

‘And He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces. And the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.’ Isaiah 25:8

]]>If our Sunday services only acknowledged the reality of our broken Genesis 3 lives (The Fall), and did not continue on to speak the whole story, we would be without hope. But it is exactly there – in Genesis 3 – where God promises Redemption.

Redemption that has been accomplished by perfect life and perfect sacrifice of God’s perfect Son, Jesus Christ. ‘It is finished (Jn 19:30),’ is the victory cry of our redemption. ‘It is finished,’ is the deathblow to the consequences of our sin, which is death (Rom 6:23).

So we want our songs, order, and services to allow people to look at their own sin – which is their death – and look at the death of Christ – which is their life.

‘And He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces. And the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.’ Isaiah 25:8

The redemptive work of Christ has restored and secured right relationship between God and man. When we are united with Christ, we are clothed in His righteousness and it is His perfect sacrifice that allows us to come boldly before the throne of grace crying, ‘Abba!’ [1 Tim 2:5, Col 2:11-12, 2 Cor 5:21, Heb 4:16, Rom 8:15]

Christ has also restored and reconciled us one to another in the family of God. He has broken down the dividing wall of hostility and made a people – a family – from strangers, foreigners, enemies, representing languages, cultures, ages, understandings, backgrounds of men and women, boys and girls. [Eph 2:14-18, 1 Pet 2:9-10]

And He will one day restore all creation – which even now groans under the weight of sin and death and decay. [Rom 8:19, Rev 21]

So we sing with joy knowing that we have been restored.

And we sing with hope, longing and expectation when together face to face with the Father, side by side with our brothers and sisters, and in the new heavens and new earth we will fully realize our restoration for all eternity.

The redemptive work of Christ has restored and secured right relationship between God and man. When we are united with Christ, we are clothed in His righteousness and it is His perfect sacrifice that allows us to come boldly before the throne of grace crying, ‘Abba!’ [1 Tim 2:5, Col 2:11-12, 2 Cor 5:21, Heb 4:16, Rom 8:15]

Christ has also restored and reconciled us one to another in the family of God. He has broken down the dividing wall of hostility and made a people – a family – from strangers, foreigners, enemies, representing languages, cultures, ages, understandings, backgrounds of men and women, boys and girls. [Eph 2:14-18, 1 Pet 2:9-10]

And He will one day restore all creation – which even now groans under the weight of sin and death and decay. [Rom 8:19, Rev 21]

So we sing with joy knowing that we have been restored.

And we sing with hope, longing and expectation when together face to face with the Father, side by side with our brothers and sisters, and in the new heavens and new earth we will fully realize our restoration for all eternity.